Some interesting things I have discovered about sugar! I have always had a ridiculously sweet tooth and I now know that a lot of the time it is down to Candida – a fungus that naturally occurs in the gut, but can overwhelm you leading to fatigue, bloating, constipation and a whole host of other symptoms. It is very common and one of the main symptoms of it is sugar-cravings, due to the fungus (a yeast) needing to feed on sugars. I have discovered a few things that can make a world of difference…
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Probiotics
Most of us know about acidophilus from ads on TV about the Yakult and Actimel products (don’t buy them – they are so full of sugar that the cons outweigh the benefits!) However there are actually 13 different strains of probiotic that naturally occur in our gut. As Candida increases the numbers of beneficial bacteria in the gut tend to decrease so it is a very good idea to keep those levels boosted. A specialist recommended a probiotic powder called Prime Directive to me – it contains all 13 strains of bacteria, but also 22 wholefoods. You can order it from www.saferemedies.co.uk
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Prebiotics
A new concept for me. Fructo-Oligo-Saccharides (FOS for short) feed the bacteria in the gut – so it is something that supports your body’s natural defences. It looks and tastes remarkably like sugar, but is not absorbed into the body. It is a natural fibre too so can support your digestive system in making you more regular! I have found that a spoon on my cereal in the morning definitely helps reduce the sugar cravings.
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Slow-release carbohydrates
I have real issues with the Atkins diet and its relations. I believe that we need complex carbohydrates in our bodies for slow release of energy, so I try to avoid refined flour (white bread/pasta) and white rice as much as possible. I make my own bread (I have a fab bread machine recipe if anyone is interested courtesy of one of my massage clients) using a blend of barleycorn and spelt flours with loads of seeds, which is delicious! However, I think the ultimate carbohydrate to eat is oats – so porridge is brilliant in the mornings, particularly if you are tired and have been up all night with a crying baby!
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Sugar-free drinks
Lots of women are keen to lose baby weight and also to boost their energy levels so it is amazingly common to see women drinking Diet Coke, or the like. A friend of mine recently went to see a nutritionist and was told that she would rather be told that her client was drinking full-fat coke than diet coke for one simple reason – Aspartame. Aspartame is an intense sweetener – used in diet drinks, sugar-free foods and a whole range of other foods – it is commonly known as Nutrasweet. People have been poisoned by aspartame leading to misdiagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis and Systemic Lupus as well as many other serious illnesses. At a certain temperature (exceeded in the human body) aspartame converts to formaldehyde, which stores in the fat cells, particularly in the hips and thighs. Formaldehyde is an absolute toxin and is used primarily to preserve “tissue specimens.” Many products we use every day contain this chemical but we should not store it in our body! There is a good article about Aspartame on http://www.ukfoodguide.net/e951.htm